Apocalyptic footage shows the moment a fuel tanker exploded underneath a bridge near the Panama Canal, almost engulfing nearly a dozen cars in a fireball that killed one person.
Orange flames came perilously close to consuming vehicles in Panama City Monday afternoon, according to footage shared online.
One person was killed in the massive fireball. Panama Firefighting Department/AFP via Getty Images The fireball shot up the side of the Bridge of the Americas, which spans the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, and thick black smoke billowed into the skyline.
Authorities confirmed one person was killed and two were injured in the blast.
Fire crews spent more than three hours struggling to get the flames under control.
The bridge, which was completed 1962 at a cost of $20 million, has since been closed and will be inspected Tuesday, according to Agence France-Presse.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.